Duo charged with kidnapping woman who jumped from moving car

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The two people who police say and kidnapped a woman who escaped by jumping out of a moving vehicle have both been charged for the crime.

Terrell Keith Smith and Patricia Ann Jernigan were in court on Friday for their part in the kidnapping of a 22-year-old Dearborn woman. Police say she was forced into the trunk of a vehicle earlier this week and only escaped when she pulled the trunk release on I-94.

Police say Jernigan invited the victim, a former friend, into her car in the area of Lonyo and Warren. Jernigan's father says his daughter and the victim grew up together

According to police, the women drove a short distance when they were confronted by Smith who produced what's believed to be a handgun and forced the victim into the back seat of the vehicle. Investigators say the victim tried to escape but he attacked her.

"The male suspect tackled her, assaulted her by striking her and forced her back into car," Dearborn Captain William Leavens said.

Investigators say when the victim was forced back into the vehicle and into the trunk, that some sort of sexual contact took place. However, they stressed it wasn't rape.

In court, Smith tried to defend himself and Jernigan and said they didn't do anything to the woman.

Police say Smith and Jernigan got on I-94 as the victim was inside the trunk. A short time later, she was able to use the vehicle's trunk release and jumped from the moving vehicle onto I-94 near Livernois in Detroit where a passing motorist got her to a gas station and police were contacted. The victim was then taken to a hospital for treatment

The father of Jernigan says his daughter was manipulated and forced to be involved in this incident.

"He manipulated here. He threatened her and her son," Willie Jernigan said.